Plaza Mayor: Where To Grab A Beer And People-Watch In Madrid

A few years back, a friend moved to Madrid for a girl and while he might have fallen out of love with her, he quickly fell for the city. He told all of us that we had to visit, that he had so much to show us, so many places to eat, views to take in. When an artist I liked planned a stop in Madrid along their European tour and none for Ireland, I took it as an opportunity to see him play, explore the city, and visit my friend. He had, indeed put together a rather intense itinerary and rushed me around from place to place in order to see it all. I grew frustrated at being dragged around in the heat and not being allowed to rest for more than five minutes (during our flying visit to the city’s famous El Retiro Park) but, we did eventually get a chance to rest. The place he deemed worth sitting with a cold beer, some jamón, and other snacks? It was the beautiful Plaza Mayor.

Popular among tourists and locals alike – something that is no mean feat in any city – the Plaza Mayor is a town square at the centre of the city and is a perfectly symmetrical and satisfying architectural gem filled with history, some great eateries, and some wonderful little stores. If you have found a vacation rental in Madrid and are planning on spending time exploring the city, it is likely that you may end up there anyway, pulled by the seemingly innate tide of the crowds that are to be found wandering the winding streets of the historic centre of the city on any given day but, if not, be sure to make a point to plan a pit-stop here.

Opening up like a breath of fresh air amidst the winding and scattered little streets of the historic core of the city, the Plaza Mayor is a chance to pause amongst the unending adventure and discovery that those charming veins of the city have to offer. It is one of the larger open spaces in this part of Madrid and is a splash of order and elegance amongst all of the Old World higgledy-piggledy charm.

Originally called the "Plaza del Arrabal", it was built during the Habsburg period, around the 15th century, and was used as a markeplace. In the 16th century King Philip II commissioned the architect Juan de Herrera to remodel the area, though work did not actually begin on the project until 1617, during the reign of the subsequent Philip III. Juan Gómez de Mora was chosen to continue on from and take over de Herrera’s original plans and the renovations were completed in 1619. Three fires throughout the centuries have left a mark that is visible only that the look of the architecture of the square now can only be attributed to 18th century reconstructions by Juan de Villanueva. Under de Villanueva, the square's surrounding buildings were lowered to three stories, the corners of the square were closed, and, as a result, large entrances were added to allow access. After his death, the plans were carried out under Antonio López Aguado and Custodio Moreno and the reconstruction was finished in 1854.

Today, the square remains a literal and metaphorical centre of Madrid life and attracts both locals and tourists who come and enjoy the square daily, or gather for special events throughout the year such as soccer games and Christmas markets and more. In fact, it is this mixture of uses that make it a great place to enjoy throughout the year; whether sipping a cold drink in the shade in spring, summer and autumn or browsing the Christmas markets with a warm drink in hand during winter. Even if there is nothing in particular going on, the ring of traditional shops and cafes under the porticoes are well worth exploring and it is the ideal spot to take a pause and give yourself a break from constant stimulation while exploring the city. If you have found a vacation rental in Madrid and are coming to experience this beautiful city in Spain, a stop by the Plaza Mayor is a must!